The 'plunger' technique for direct aspiration thrombectomy

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Endovascular Therapy
• Neurology

Background:

• Direct aspiration thrombectomy is a primary endovascular treatment for acute ischemic stroke.
• Current methods often use static aspiration, applying a fixed vacuum.
• Clot deformation during aspiration can enhance catheter ingestion.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a novel manual technique for cyclic aspiration in stroke thrombectomy.
• To introduce the 'plunger' technique for enhanced clot ingestion.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing a 60 mL locking syringe to manually apply on/off vacuum force.
• Demonstrating the 'plunger' technique for cyclic aspiration during thrombectomy.
• A video demonstration of the technique is provided.

Main Results:

• The 'plunger' technique offers a simple, manual approach to cyclic aspiration.
• Cyclic aspiration may improve clot ingestion compared to static methods.
• This technique aims to enhance recanalization in acute ischemic stroke.

Conclusions:

• The 'plunger' technique provides a feasible manual method for cyclic aspiration in stroke thrombectomy.
• This approach may optimize clot removal and improve patient outcomes.
• Further evaluation of this technique in clinical practice is warranted.